Hundreds protest in Lashio in northern Shan State.

Hundreds of Ta’ang took to the streets of Lashio in Myanmar’s northern Shan State to protest alleged abductions of civilians by a Shan armed group.

Twelve people from Mangli village disappeared after clashes broke out in Namtu township in late February. The Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) stands accused of kidnapping the missing villagers.

Nearly 300 people from Nam Kham township gathered at Nang Heywon park in Lashio for the protest. After the protestors marched to the Union Sport ground while holding signs that said “stop human rights abuses on people” and demanding for the RCSS/SSA to release the villagers.

“There were multiple clashes between the RCSS/SSA and TNLA (Ta’ang National Liberation Army) in Namtu township from February 26 to March 3. The villagers disappeared during the fighting and I think the RCSS/SSA forces arrested them. So, that is why we are demanding their release,” said one of the demonstrators.

Col. Sai Nguen, a spokesperson for the RCSS/SSA, disputed the accusations. “The RCSS/SSA doesn’t have a policy of arresting local people. We are still investigating this case to decide whether our soldiers arrested those people or not. Without confirmation, they shouldn’t organize the demonstration. We are all living together in Shan State and should meet for discussion before protesting. We can’t solve problems if we just blame each other whenever their people or our people disappear during clashes.”

In northern Shan State, most of the armed groups that are fighting with each other and the Myanmar Army have been accused of kidnappings and other human rights abuses on civilians.

The RCSS/SSA and the TNLA started fighting in late November of 2015, less than two months after the Shan armed group signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). The Myanmar Army excluded the TNLA from joining the NCA.